Reversible starter and generator drive for engines



Sept. 8, 1936. E 2,053,354

REVERSIBLE STARTER AND GENERATOR DRIVE FOR ENGINES Filed June 7,1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Mr-man N Sept. 8, 1936. Q r T|| EY I 2,053,354

REVERSIBLE STARTER AND GENERATOR DRIVE. FOR ENGINES Filed June 7; 1 955 R 2 Sheefcs-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 8 1936 J H w 7 V a UNETED STATES PATENT .QFFICE 2,052 354 'I REVERSIBLE STARTER AND 'GENERATOR' V DRIVE FOR ENGINES Norman N. Tilley, Detroit, Mich.,.assignor to,

Continental Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of .Virginia- Application June '2, 1935, Serial o. 25,357 a v 8Claims. (o1.,74-6)' I 1.:

My invention relates to engines and more parcrankcase is arranged to support the crankshaft ticularly to a reversiblelstarter and generator 12 in amannerthat'is wellknown in the art, drive for engines of the internal combustion this crankshaft carrying a crankshaft starter type. gear l3 which is driven through a suitable inter- 5" In engines employed for propelling aircraft it mediate gearing from the starter shaft, said in is necessary in many instances to provide engines termediate gearing comprising a gear i4 meshing which may be readily converted from a right' hand with the" starter gear is andcarried' by the stub to a lefthand drive engine, and in so doing it shaft l5-supported in suitable bearings l6 and i1 becomes necessary to accommodate the engine carried by the crankcase In and gear casestrucfor starters and generators of conventional and ture ii respectively. -One end of the stub shaft 10 standard design which may be interchanged bel5 carries a bevelled drivengear l8 adapted for tween said right and left hand engines. permanent driving connection with the driving It is an object of my present invention to probevelled gear l9 carried and driven by the starter vide a simple and convenient starter and genshaft as hereinafter described.

' erator drive which may be selectively arranged The reversible starter and generatorfdrive for 15 forassembly with either a right or left hand the present engine is preferably housed within engine, whereby to facilitate the 'manufacture the gear case structure M and oomprisesing'e'n and maintenance of such engines. 7 eral a starter shaft structure or assembly sup- A further object of my inventionrelates more ported in spaced bearing portions and 22- car-- 2 particularly to the assembly of a starter drive riedby'thegear'c'ase structure in such a manner 20 shaft which is constructed and-arranged tobe as to permit the'starte'rshaft 20 to be reversed provided with a starter jaw type of clutch at one end for end in accordance with a prearranged end anda generator driving connection at the plan for adapting thesame-for=assembly with a other end, said starter shaft being adapted to be right or left hand engine. Preferably thesespaced 125 selectively positioned end for end in the assembly bearing portions 2! and 22 are disposed on oppowith the engine to facilitate the reversing of the site sides of the stub shaft l5 and preferably driving connections between the starter and diametrically opposite' 'with respect to said shaft crankshaft starter gear. and the driven'bevelled gear i8 as clearly shown For a further understanding of my invention in Figs; 3 and, 4," 31 I v V f v reference may be had to the accompanying draw- This starter'shaft is"preferably provided with 30 ings which illustrate one form which my invena starter driving clutch 9 at one end and'a' gention may assume, and in which: erator driving co'nnection ii at the other end,'the

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional gear case being provided with suitable flanges and view throug a engine Showing the ear case concentric pilot portions z land'zfi for respective 35 a d t e gea therein for p iv ly connectly supporting the starter and generator. Bear- 3'5 in t e St ter and generator with theengine ing sleeves orbushings 26 arearranged and con crankshaft. v r I struct'ed of'sucha size and "diameter asto be Fi 2 is a t ansv rs s t nal v w through fitted and supported in either of the spaced bearthe engine taken Substantially Q t e i e ing portions 2l' and 'ZZ carried by thegear'case 4.0 of Fig. 1. and S ow in detailthe b y of structure. As shown in Figs; 2 and 3 the starter 40 the reversible starter and g ner tor dr ve. shaft-2B is provided with bearing portion 20' and i 3 i a horizontal detail fr men ary secis supported in the bearing" sleeve o'r' bushing 26 tional view through the starter shaft taken snb-' carried bysaidbearing portion 22." The starter stantially on the line 3-3 f Fig. 2, and I shaftportion beyond said -b e'aring'portion 29"is Fig. 4 is a similar horizontal fragmentary Seo reduced diameter'andcarries a driving portion 45 tional View through the starter shaft, show ng which, in this case, comprises thesplined teeth 21. said shaft ev r d in position and adapted for Beyond the said splinedteeth 21 the starter shaft a reverse driving connection." a l is further reduced in" diameter and extended I have preferably illustrated my present 'inventhrough the other bearingportion 2|. A driving tion in connection 'with an aircraft internal commember or sleeve '28 is supported on'the starter 50" bustion en in of h ype having aligned cvlmshaft and is provided with internal splined teeth ders and which in general includes a crankcase 2!} adapted for engagement with the'splined'teeth' iii to which is secured a gearcase I! for housing 21 of the starter-shaft,- said driving: sleeve 28 the various accessory drive gears including the having the bearingon'the starter'shaft intermestarter and generator driving mechanism. The diate the-teeth andbearin'g portion 20' andabut- 55 ting the shoulder carried by said starter shaft. This driving sleeve is preferably constructed to carry the aforesaid driving bevelled gear l9 and as shown in the present embodiment of my invention, this driving bevelled gear I!) is preferably integrally formed with the driving sleeve 28. V The assembly and positioning of the driving sleeve 28 on the starter shaft is preferably completed by the assembly therewith of a second sleeve 3| which is supported on the reduced end portion of the starter shaft as at 3Ia and is provided with a reduced bearing portion 32 for axial assembly within the end of the drivingsleeve 28, this second sleeve 3| having a shoulder 33 abutting the end of the driving sleeve 28 and being further provided with the extension 31b extending within the sleeve and carrying one or more lugs 34, which are adapted to ,be axially assembled between a pair of teeth of the starter shaft whereby to effect a driving connection between said starter shaft and said second sleeve. A lock nut 35 is secured to the starter shaft and adjustably positioned to lock the driving sleeve and second sleeve in position withrespect to said starter shaft, this nut when drawn down forcing the driving sleeve against the shoulder 30 and the shoulder 33 of the second sleeve againstthe end of the driving sleeve and at the same time forcing the lug 34 into engagement with the splined teeth .on the starter shaft.

'It will thus be noted that the second sleeve 3| is driven with the starter shaft and has a hearing within the bearing 26 carried by the gear case bearing portion 2|. The starter shaft assembly comprises the shaft, and the sleeves 28 and 3|, all held together in a unitary assembly by the lock nut 35.

A left hand engine of the type herein described is such as to' rotate the crankshaft in the opposite direction from a right hand engine and thus it is necessary in providing a reversible starter drive mechanism in order to have the starter shaft rotate in a direction as to initially drive the stub shaft l5 in the opposite direction.

In Fig. 4 I have shown an arrangement for reversing the drive and it will be noted that the stub shaft I5 is herein driven in the opposite direction than is the case with the stub shaft shown in Fig. 3, the direction of rotation of the stub shafts in said figures being indicated bythe arrows. i

In the present embodiment of my invention this reverse drive is accomplished by turn-ing the starter shaft 20 end for end, and it will be noticed that the bearing portion 20' of the starter shaft is now engaged or supported in bearing sleeve 26 carried by the bearing portion 2| of the gear case structure. (Refer particularly to Fig. 4.) The reduced end portion of the starter shaft is extended through the bearing portion 22 of the gear case and the second sleeve 3| is supported on the reduced portion of the starter shaft in a manner similar to the construction shown in Fig. 3; but in this case the driving sleeve 28 is supported in a reverse manner than shown in Fig. 3, relative to the starter shaft, that portion of the driving sleeve 28 underneath the driving bevelled gear l9 being now supported on the starter shaft 20 while the extreme end portion of the bearing sleeve is supported on said second sleeve 3 I, a condition which is directly opposite to the structure shown in Fig. 3. V

The starter and generator are interchangeable withrespect to the pilot and flanges 24 and 25- as will be quite evident, and are thus selectively accommodated for both right hand and left hand engines.

Although I have illustrated but one form of my invention and have described in detail but a single application thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention pertains that various modifications and changes may bemade therein without departing from the spirit of my invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft and a crankshaft starter gear secured to said crankshaft, a reversible starter and generator drive assembly comprising a starter shaft supported for selective positioning end for end, a

driving member driven by said starter shaft from both positions of the starter shaft, said starter shaft having a starter drive clutch at one end and a generator driving connection at the other end thereof, and means drivingly connecting said driving member with the crankshaft starter gear. 2. In an internal combustion engine having a gear case structure, a crankshaft and a crankshaft starter gear secured to said crankshaft, a reversible starter and generator drive assembly comprising spaced bearing portions carried by the gear case structure and constructed substantially equal in diameter, a starter shaft supported for selective positioning end for end, said starter shaft having a starter drive clutch at one end and a bearing portion adjacent to theclutch arranged to fit either of the gear case bearing portions and having reduced portion, a driving member secured in driving relation to said reduced portion and selectively reversible relative to the starter shaft, a sleeve carried by said reduced portion and having a bearing portion supported in said other gear case bearing portion, said sleeve having a shoulder forming an abutment for positioning said driving member, means for locking said sleeve in position, and means drivingly connecting said driving member with the crankshaft starter gear. 3. In an internal combustion engine having a gear case structure, a crankshaft andacrankshaft starter gear secured to said crankshaft, a reversible starter and generator drive assembly comprising spaced bearing portions carried by the gear case structure and constructed substantially equal in diameter, a starter shaft supported for selective positioning end for end, said starter shaft having a starter drive clutch at one end and a bearing portion adjacent to the clutch arranged to fit either of the gear case bearing portions and having reduced portion, a driving member secured in driving relation to said reduced portion and selectively reversible relative to the starter shaft, a sleeve carried by said reduced portion and having 'a bearing portion supported in said other gear case bearing portion, said sleeve having a shoulder forming an abutment for positioning said driving member, and locked in driving engagement with said starter shaft, means for locking said sleeve in position on said starter shaft. and means drivingly connecting said driving member with the crankshaft starter gear.

4. In an internal combustion engine having a gear case structure, a crankshaft and a crankshaft starter gear secured to said crankshaft, a reversible starter and generator drive assembly comprising spaced bearing portions carried by the gear case structure, a starter shaft supported by said spaced bearing portions for selective positioning end for end and having a driving portion, said starter shaft having a starter drive clutch at one end, a generator drive connection at the other end, a driving member supported for driving connection with the driving portion of said starter shaft for each position of said starter shaft, and means drivingly connecting said driving member with the crankshaft starter gear.

5. In an internal combustion engine having a gear case structure, a crankshaft and a crankshaft starter gear secured to said crankshaft, a reversible starter and generator drive assembly comprising spaced bearing portions carried by the gear case structure, a starter shaft supported by said spaced bearing portions for selective positioning end for end and having a driving portion, said starter shaft having a starter drive clutch at one end, a generator drive connection at the other end, a driving sleeve supported on said starter shaft and drivingly connected with the driving portion of said starter shaft for each posi-.

tion of said starter shaft, and intermediate gearing providing a permanent driving connection with said crankshaft starter gear.

6. In an internal combustion engine having a gear case structure, a crankshaft and a crankshaft starter gear secured to said crankshaft, a reversible starter and generator drive assembly comprising spaced bearing portions carried by the gear case structure, a starter shaft supported by said spaced bearing portions for selective positioning end for end and having a driving portion, said starter shaft having a starter drive clutch at one end, a generator drive connection at the other end, a gear mechanism operatively connected with crankshaft starter gear and including a driven beveled gear, and a driving sleeve supported on said starter gear for driving connection with the driving portion of the starter shaft for each position of said starter shaft, said sleeve having a beveled driving gear connected in permanent driving relation with the driven beveled gear of said gear mechanism.

7. In an internal combustion engine having a gear case structure, a crankshaft and a crankshaft starter gear secured to said crankshaft, a reversible starter and generator drive assembly comprising spaced bearing portions carried by the gear case structure, a starter shaft supported by said spaced bearing portions for selective positioning end for end and having a portion reduced in diameter carrying a driving portion, said starter shaft having a starter drive clutch at one end and a generator drive connection at the other end, a driving sleeve supported on the starter shaft portion of reduced diameter and drivingly connected with the starter shaft driving portion for each position of said starter shaft, a second sleeve supported on said starter shaft portion of reduced diameter and provided with a shoulder abutting said driving sleeve and with a bearing portion engaging one of the spaced bearing portions of said gear case structure, a lock nut secured to said starter shaft to lock said driving sleeve and said second sleeve on said starter shaft against axial displacement, and means drivingly connecting said driving sleeve with the crankshaft starter gear.

8. In an internal combustion engine having a gear case structure, a crankshaft and a crankshaft starter gear secured to said crankshaft, a reversible starter and generator drive assembly comprising spaced bearing portions carried by the gear case structure, a starter shaft supported by said spaced bearing portions for selective positioning end for end and having a portion reduced in diameter carrying splined teeth, said shaft having a starter drive clutch at one end and a generator drive connection at the other end, a driving sleeve supported on the starter shaft portion of reduced diameter and having internal splined teeth drivingiy connected with the splined teeth carried by the starter shaft and reversibly positioned relative to said starter shaft, a second sleeve supported on said starter shaft portion of reduced diameter and provided with one or more lugs telescopically engaged between the gear teeth on said starter shaft to drivingly connect the said second sleeve with the starter shaft, said second sleeve being also provided with a shoulder abutting said driving sleeve and with a bearing portion engaging one of the spaced bearing portions of saidgear case structure, a lock nut secured to said starter shaft to lock the driving sleeve and said second sleeve in driving connection with said starter shaft and against axial displacement therewith, and means drivingly connecting said driving sleeve with the crankshaft starter gear.

' NORMAN N. TILLEY. 

